Tips on Ceiling Crown Molding Sizes

Ceiling crown molding adds a distinctive decorative touch.

Ceiling crown molding, a simple interior home upgrade, creates a major visual transformation. Crown molding can give rooms proportion and balance by establishing a decorative transition between the walls and ceiling. Consider your room’s dimensions and overall style to determine the correct size, material and design for your crown molding. Size is important -- an oversized molding will overwhelm your room and cause it to look cramped, while an undersized molding will lack impact and panache.

Eight Feet or Lower

Ceiling crown moldings typically measure between 3 and 20 inches wide. Use your room height measurement to help determine the width of the crown molding. Install a crown molding between 3 and 5 3/4 inches wide in a room with ceilings measuring 8 feet. A larger room can support a wider crown molding, while a more narrow molding will work better in a smaller room. For a smaller room with ceilings lower than 8 feet, consider installing a crown molding that projects out onto the ceiling.

Nine to 10 Feet

Estimate crown molding width by permitting 1/2 inch of rise for each foot of ceiling height, in a room with ceilings measuring 9 to 10 feet. Adjust upward for larger rooms. Install a ceiling molding between 4 1/4 and 7 inches wide in a room with ceilings measuring 9 to 10 feet. Design your molding to cover the ceiling and wall seam horizontally on a “spring angle” measuring 38 or 48 degrees.

Ten Feet or Higher

Taller or vaulted ceilings require significantly wider crown moldings to make a visual impression, even in smaller rooms. Estimate crown molding width by permitting slightly more than an inch -- about 1.12 inches -- of rise for each foot of ceiling height. Install a crown molding 7 inches or wider in a room with ceilings measuring higher than 10 feet. Create the illusion of a wider molding by combining multiple trim pieces at the top and/or bottom of the angled molding.

Materials and Profiles

Ready-made ceiling crown molding is constructed of wood, medium-density fiberboard, or MDF, and polyurethane. Custom ceiling crown moldings are also made with plaster. The decorative edging is available in several different profile styles. The profile describes the look of the molding when viewed from the side. Profiles vary from simple geometric lines to highly ornate carvings. An intricately carved, ornate molding will work well in a large traditional room. Install a clean molding with a flat profile in a Craftsman home.

About the Author

Gwen Carrington is a marketing professional with experience in strategic brand management, consumer marketing, business-to-business marketing and communications management. She has held lead marketing roles in a variety of industries, including fine jewelry, new homes and technology.